Mattress hugging bed rail

Abstract

A bed rail structured to minimize the gap between the mattress and the bed rail and including a leg portion and a rail portion. The rail portion extends upwardly on a first side of the mattress to extend beyond the sleeping surface of the mattress and prevent a person from rolling out of bed. The leg portion is sandwiched between the mattress and the box spring and extends toward a second side of the mattress. In one embodiment, the leg portion includes a distal end that is engaged to the second side of at least one of the mattress and box spring such that the distal end and rail portion hug the mattress. In another embodiment, the bed rail includes a relatively rigid cover depending from an upper portion of the rail portion to the sleeping surface so as to cover a gap that may exist between the first side of the mattress and the rail portion. In still another embodiment, the rail portion is set at an acute angle relative to the leg portion so as to tend to close off any gap between the first side of the mattress and the rail portion. In another embodiment, the wall of the rail portion may include tubing and the rail portion may be drawn against the bed with a strap extending about the periphery of the bed.

1. A bed rail adapted for engagement to a bed having a first side, a second side, and a sleeping surface, with the bed having a mattress and box spring with respective first and second sides, wherein the bed rail comprises:
 a) a leg portion; 
 b) a rail portion engaged to the leg portion and confronting the first side of the bed, wherein the rail portion includes a frame and sheeting engaged to the frame; 
 c) wherein the rail portion extends from the leg portion to and beyond the sleeping surface to prevent a person on the sleeping surface from rolling off the bed; 
 d) wherein the leg portion extends from the rail portion toward the second side of the bed; 
 e) wherein the frame comprises a rigid component; 
 f) wherein the rail portion and the leg portion can be relatively drawn to each other and away from each other such that the rail portion is drawable to and away from a position confronting the first side of the bed; and 
 g) a member having an upper extension and a lower extension, wherein the upper extension confronts the second side of the mattress, wherein the lower extension confronts the second side of the box spring, wherein the member is engaged to the leg portion to keep the rail portion hugging the first side of the bed, and wherein the rail portion and member hug the bed therebetween; 
 h) wherein the frame further comprises an upper portion, a lower portion, and a pair of side portions, wherein the upper portion extends to and between the side portions, wherein the lower portion extends to and between the side portions, wherein the sheeting is engaged between the upper and lower portions and between the side portions, wherein said rigid component of the frame comprises tubing running to and between the side portions of the frame and is disposed between the upper portion of the frame and the lower portion of the frame, and wherein said tubing is disposed in one of i) a plane of the sleeping surface and ii) relatively closely to a plane of the sleeping surface.